The Swedish Wedding Tradition: A Lesson in Eating
When it comes to their wedding ceremonies, the Swedish people take tradition extremely seriously, especially when it comes to what they eat. Here are some prominent traditions this culture follows when marrying off their youth.
- The Feast – The different types of food eaten at Swedish weddings can’t be counted on one hand. The Swedes traditionally serve a three day feast, called a smorgasbord, including one fish and one meat, and culminating in a masterpiece of a cake called a spettekaka. Swedish bakers create this cake by sprinkling batter over a spit which produces a delicate, lacelike sweet.
- Drinking and Carousing – It’s a long held tradition in most countries to dance and sing songs at a wedding reception. In Sweden, these songs will more than likely be drinking songs. However, before this celebration can start it is traditional for the father of both the bride and groom to give toasts to the couple. Then, throughout the night, if the groom leaves the room, anyone who wishes so can get a kiss from the bride.
- Spare Change – Brides in Sweden take their shoes rather seriously. In order to facilitate a life filled with an abundance of joy, a bride will place one coin from her father and mother in each shoe. It’s also believed that if her shoes are kept unlaced, childbearing will be easier.
- The Wares – Instead of wearing two rings representing engagement and marriage, a Swedish bride also wears a third ring symbolizing motherhood. Along with the many rings she is wearing, a Swedish bride usually carries a bouquet filled with strongly scented weeds which ward off evil. She may also wear a tiara representing herself as a virgin.
- The “I do’s” – At the beginning of a Swedish marriage, the man is not necessarily considered the head of the household. Instead, this position is filled during the wedding ceremony; whoever says their “I do’s” the loudest or steps over the doorstep first is named head of the household.
From coins to 3-day-long feasts, Swedish weddings are undeniably festive events. To learn more about wedding traditions from different countries, stop by EasyEventPlanning.com.
Written by Emily Tate
